Setting up the Spinny

Ok I know that to you old sea dogs out there this is probably an inane question but for those of us who don't have a clue or "clew" to coin a phrase..... can somebody go through step by step, as if they are showing their aged grandfather the way to setup and fly the spinny on an Achilles. we have all the bits I think but don't have a clue how to set one up or indeed fly it. accompanied by pictures would be a real bonus.
Thanks
Originally posted at 3:51AM, 11 May 2008 PDT
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Skykomish E29 edited this topic ages ago.

very good articles , with all that information, now judgement is what you need, and that comes out of practice.Go for your spi first in small conditions for a while, and you will start knowing what the boat can take. Remember not lo let the wind go too much forward of the mast if it is stronger than the boat can take it will press the boat to much to leeward and possibly round her up

Thanks Antonio and Neil, Yes I agree a lot of information. Great video..don't worry I only intend using the Spinny in light winds, during this nice weather we have been out now three times and at the end of an enjoyable days sail we have ended up quite a way upwind, however for some reason we make very slow progress with the main and jib goosewinged out running for home due to the wind dying off in the early evening , this prompted me to think about the Spinny we have stowed away in the darkest depths of the sail locker particularly as we used the pole as a nice backrest lashed to the guardrails, and how this would hopefully get us home more "efficiently"
Originally posted ages ago.
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Skykomish E29 edited this topic ages ago.

malcolm if the wind is very light it will not make much difference wether you goosewing or fly the spinny when you run dead downwind the most important is angle.When you go straight downwind the little wind there is becomes very much less due to apparent wind.It often pays in speed and joy to go maybe 15º or 20º to the wind then you feel it blows a bit more, and then gybe onto the other tack,it is also frequently less stressful to sail like this. Good sail Antonio
ages ago
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Antonio, You know it is the obvious that we sometimes miss, I found the other day that we came to a virtual standstill running downwind against the tide for the very reason you describe, however at the time I couldn't understand it as there seemed to be plenty of wind on the reach, but when turning on the run ....very little and we just held our position for half an hour. obviously the old brain cells are not yet upto speed thanks for jogging my memory!

MMMM guillain what are we talking about here?..hahah, seriously I have a pole, a sail, loads of tangled rope and not much idea how to rig the spinny, also I had heard so many horror stories that I was a bit reluctant to hoist it up without some idea of how it flew or what to expect, thanks to all the info supplied by Neil I feel a little more confident.

Changing the subject slightly I have come to the conclusion that the flimsy battens in my mainsail are obviously doing very little and indeed are the wrong size, once again I spoke to the Gurus at Crusader and they were just soooooooo helpful new ones on order
10/10
ages ago
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Depends on whether you want to gybe 'end over end' or 'unclip and dip'. Have a look at:www.flickr.com/photos/achilles24/3437428529/in/set-721576...
This shows Archimedes set up for either system. Note that the downhaul is fixed to the mast step. This means that when adjusting the pole angle to the wind, only the sheet and guy need to be altered. If your pole does not have a central attachment point then a bridle can be used as for the uphaul on Archimedes. Note that in the picture the pole is the wrong way up. The jaws should be open side up so that the load is on the jaw not the trigger release rod. Hope this makes sense.
90 months ago
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Before you start go round the boat and tape up any split pins etc the could catch and rip the spinnaker. Pick a nice day with a very gentle wind and go for it. It’s not as complicated and scary as people make out.www.flickr.com/photos/8165051@N06/5440785679/in/photostream
Originally posted 90 months ago.
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Andrew Curry edited this topic 90 months ago.

busy home [deleted] says:

Practical Boat Owner this months. How to use a spinny.
90 months ago
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Need to differentiate between flying a spinny and racing, for most people not racing pole downhaul can be attached anywhere that pulls it down and normally at mast, in nice gentle cruising weather can survive without downhaul at all with just uphaul to help (racers will be aghast). Spinnys are good fun for cruising.
90 months ago
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You will need to use the downhaul when setting the pole in place or adjusting the pole height, but if fixed to the mast step then you don't need to adjust the downhaul if changing the angle of the pole to the wind. Since most of the load from the spinny is through the halyard and through the pole to the uphaul. I fail to see how it would work without one, since the pole will just rise to unacceptable heights. Don't play around with one other than in light winds if you don't know what you are doing. PBO article explains the theory very well.
90 months ago
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If downhaul is attached to base of mast then it does not need to be touched when adjusting the angle of the pole (sideways). Obviously if the pole is adjusted vertically then the downhaul will have to be changed.
90 months ago
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